Hotels across Texas provide shelter, privacy, and anonymity, all of which are qualities that, unfortunately, make them attractive venues for human trafficking. Survivors of hotel sex trafficking and forced labor deserve accountability, not just from the individuals who exploited them, but also from the properties that made it possible. If hotel staff or ownership knew or should have known that human trafficking in hotels was occurring on their premises and did nothing to stop it, they may be liable under Texas law.
Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code § 98.002
Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 98.002, a defendant who intentionally or knowingly benefits from participating in a venture that involves trafficking another person can face civil liability for resulting harm to that person. In other words, a hotel that profits from rental revenue while ignoring obvious signs of trafficking can qualify as a knowing beneficiary of that trafficking venture.
Critically, the law clarifies that a lack of criminal conviction is no barrier to civil liability. Hotels don’t have to face criminal charges for survivors to bring successful lawsuits against hotels for human trafficking. Survivors can recover monetary compensation for their personal and financial losses, including mental anguish, court costs, reasonable attorney’s fees, and possibly exemplary damages.
Common Allegations Against Hotel Chains and Franchisees
Hotel human trafficking lawsuits typically center on what the property knew, when it knew, and what it did or failed to do. Certain patterns of guest behavior are well-documented warning signs of trafficking that trained hotel staff can and should recognize, such as the following:
- Cash-only payments
- Extended stays
- Excessive requests for towels and linens
- Frequent visitors to a single room
- Guests who never leave the property
Prior complaints are another red flag. If guests or employees report suspicious activity to management, but management looks the other way, records of those reports can establish that the hotel had actual knowledge of trafficking on its premises.
Texas Business and Commerce Code Chapter 114 requires commercial lodging establishments to provide annual human trafficking awareness training to all direct employees and to maintain records of that training. If a hotel can’t produce those records or provides no training at all, that lack of compliance can serve as powerful evidence of negligence. The absence of required warning signs or the failure to designate reporting numbers can further support a claim.
Preserving Evidence and Acting Quickly
Evidence in hotel human trafficking cases can disappear quickly. Hotels routinely purge surveillance footage, check-in records, maintenance logs, and staff schedules within days or weeks. Texas law allows courts to issue orders to preserve evidence, but these orders are only effective if you act before that evidence is already gone. An attorney can handle the process of identifying and preserving evidence swiftly, so delays don’t cost you the very documentation that could prove your case.
How Fibich, Leebron, Copeland & Briggs Helps Survivors Hold Properties Accountable
At Fibich, Leebron, Copeland & Briggs, we’ve spent decades fighting for people that powerful institutions try to ignore. Tommy Fibich founded our firm in 1992 with the goal of holding wrongdoers accountable. Today, our team includes several board-certified trial attorneys and has recovered over $1 billion for clients across Texas.
Our reputable lawyers know how to build hotel human trafficking lawsuits that withstand scrutiny. We move quickly to preserve evidence, dig deep into training records and complaint histories, and take on hotel chains and franchisors who put profits ahead of human decency. If you or someone you love suffered harm at a Texas hotel, contact us today to learn more in a free, fully confidential consultation.
